Chapter 9: Venice Continued

Severus groaned, "Must you!"

"Please, I've always wanted to know what he really looked like. There must be a memory of him here," Hermione begged.

Severus smirked at her. "Gryffindor to the core."

"Yes." She sidled up to him. "But I love a Slytherin."

He gave her a pained smile and said, "All right, if you must." He took her hand and they went to the receptionist desk to the side. "My companion wishes to see Godric Gryffindor."

The woman, like many librarians, looked severe. She was small and had a tight bun of black hair at the back of her head. Her robes were of the purest black, and she had half-moon glasses perched on her nose. She looked up at them with disdain, as if she was annoyed at being bothered.

"Wands, please," she demanded, looking back at the parchments that covered her desk.

Severus raised his eyebrows but produced his wand and laid it on the desk. "I am Professor Snape, currently teaching at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This is my apprentice, Hermione Granger."

Hermione followed his example and placed her wand on the desk.

She didn't speak, but she brought her wand out and touched the tips of their wands and watched as a trail of color rose. She eyed them now. "Professor Snape, Miss Granger, your reputations proceeded you. What is it you wish to see?"

"My apprentice wishes to see the real Godric Gryffindor. I would prefer to see Salazar Slytherin. Is there something that we can both watch?"

She studied both their faces. The learned professor was holding his apprentice's hand. They must be lovers, she thought. Now that was interesting...and good gossip for the meeting next week.

"I have one that few people have the rank to see. You're both war heroes. I think that qualifies you."

"Why the mystery?" Severus asked.

"It's quite special, but it was viewed through the eyes of a house-elf. House-elves' minds are a bit different. You are an Occlumens, aren't you?"

"Yes," Severus said. He was quite interested now.

"Have you ever been inside the mind of a house-elf?"

"Yes, on one occasion," he said. His face was tight with emotion.

Hermione made a note to ask him about that at a later date.

"Good, then you are familiar with their thought process, and you will be able to control the flow and eddies that are within the house-elf's mind. It is good that you are familiar with their eye sight." She turned to Hermione and said, "Their eyes are huge and let a massive amount of light in. You will need to use your talents to focus the scene. Do you wish to continue under these conditions?"

"Absolutely," Severus and Hermione said, trying to control the curiosity her explanation had piqued.

The woman got up from her chair, opened a drawer, and took out a shinny, gold key. "Follow me." She headed down through the aisle of Pensieves, weaving here and there and avoiding those who were deep in memories.

She did not speak until she had opened a door in the back and they had followed her into a secluded room. A fantastic obsidian Pensieve rose from the floor. There was a glass case with vials of memories. The witch used her wand to lower some quite impressive wards and then inserted the key. There was a flare of light, and the glass door swung open. She selected a vial and then closed and warded the case again.

She turned and poured the memory into the Pensieve. It was different from human memories, which looked like quicksilver. This one had swirls of gold in it.

"It would be best if you perform Legilimency on Miss Granger before entering the memory. When you take her with you, you can control what she sees through your occluded mind. I warn you, do not let her go. She would not be able to find her way out."

Severus nodded. "Hermione, are you sure you wish to see this? There is no shame in bowing out."

"I trust you, my love," she said, slipping an arm around his waist.

Definitely lovers, the old witch thought. "Ring the bell when you are done. Because of the rareness of this memory, you must be locked in. "

"We understand. Please leave us," Severus requested softly. He was already doing mental exercises to prepare himself for performing Legilimency and Occlumency. It was difficult to perform both at the same time, but he was the best. It was not pride; it was a simple fact. He had managed to fool the Dark Lord...the most powerful wizard of their time. This would not be too difficult.

Severus pulled her close when the witch shut the door behind her. They heard the lock click into place.

"Hermione, look deeply into my eyes and concentrate on me and only me."

Hermione nodded and gazed into his eyes. She heard him say "Legilimens" and felt herself pulled into darkness for a moment. Then light flooded her senses, and she was looking at herself. Was it a mirror? No, it was Severus looking down at her. She felt a massive magical power surround her. She was Severus Snape, and she felt so much raw power flowing through him to her it nearly staggered her. She'd had no idea. She felt his hand on her arms, steadying her. She felt love flow around her, and she knew that if she'd ever had a tiny spark of doubt about his love, it was gone. They were one in a way sex could never accomplish. She was he, and he was she. He was gazing at her, thinking how beautiful she was and how she completed his life in a way no one else had ever had or would again. She caught a bit of his fear at somehow losing her, but it was replaced with waves of secure love and admiration.

"Severus," she whispered. She thought mischievously, We need to try this while we are having sex.

"Indeed," he said. "Come, let's begin this adventure." They turned as one and plunged their faces into the river of memory.

There was a blare of light, and then the picture focused. Hermione clung to the edge of the Pensieve to steady herself, and she felt Severus' arm tighten about her.

A room took form around them, and they appeared to be watching from a small, hidden door. They looked up upon two tall, magnificent-looking men. One was bronzed and muscled and had a thick mane of red hair. He wore a short, gladiator-like skirt of woven Gryffindor red and gold. A tunic top covered part of his bare chest. There were cuffs of gold at his wrists. He looked as strong as a blacksmith.

The other man was pale...almost white skinned. He was thinner than the first man and had black hair streaked with silver that hung to his shoulders and a mustache and beard. His eyes and brows, black as night, gave him a striking look. He wore long green and silver robes. Power radiated from him.

"Godric, your views are flawed. You must see the whole picture. If we do not keep our bloodlines pure, our people are doomed. Our magic will fade with each generation until there are only tricksters playing at magic."

Godric turned to stand by a blazing fireplace. The sides were ornate, and two proud lions carved in dark wood adorned the sides of the mantel.

Severus/Hermione thought, We must be in Godric's rooms.

"You are being pigheaded and ridiculous, brother. You have seen the Muggle-borns with their powerful magic. They come to us for teaching. Some of their abilities are far beyond some of your pure-bloods. If we do not teach and include them, someone else will, and they will rise against us. Do we not wish to include all magic people in our society? Sides must not be drawn."

"Helga and Rowena will side with you, as they always do," Salazar spat at him. "I am the only one who sees that we must stay separate. Only pure-bloods will be able to maintain a proper wizarding society."

"And what of the half-bloods? Their magical parents are part of your society, but what about their spouses? What would you do about them? We live in this world, Salazar. We must integrate ourselves into this world eventually. It may take a thousand years, but if we segregate any of those who have the ability to do magic, then we create more factions in a world already divided by non-magical and magical birth."

"I will not stay here and look on these half-breeds and Muggle-borns anymore. I cannot stand the thought of them learning our secrets. You mark my words: One will be born who will take over this society of wizards and set our world on fire. And when the fire burns itself out, only pure-bloods will remain." He raised his wand menacingly.

Godric looked at Salazar and asked, "Would you kill me, after all we have been through together?"

Salazar did not say anything but finally lowered his wand. It vanished amongst his robes.

Godric took hold of Salazar's arms and pulled the man against him. Salazar stood stiff and unyielding. Then he slumped against Godric, his arms tightening in a hug.

Godric said, "We built this school together, my brother. You know that I love you. It rips my heart out to see you tear down that which we built."

Salazar seemed to shake himself, and he pushed Godric away. "Your words of love and brotherhood will not sway me. If I cannot have what I want here, I will go elsewhere." He went to the door and grabbed the ornate doorknob.

"Salazar, please listen to me. Do not leave this way," Godric implored.

Salazar hesitated a moment and then opened the door.

Godric called to him, "I will not disband your house. It will remain here as a testament to you and your ideas. Your can always come back."

Salazar stepped out the door and pulled it closed behind him without looking back.

Godric turned back to the fire and laid his forehead against the mantel for a moment. Then he took a deep breath and stood strong, staring into the fire. The fire danced in his eyes, giving him a fierce look.

Severus and Hermione felt themselves take a step back, and silently the door closed before their eyes and blackness overtook them. They rose up from the memory and stood unsteadily. Severus held on to Hermione and then slowly drew his mind back, releasing her. He saw her face was streaked with tears. She threw herself against him.

"Severus, that was the most crucial event in the history of Hogwarts. I had no idea it was preserved. What other wonders must be in this place."

Severus held her close and said, "What indeed."

They stood for a while without speaking until they felt steady enough to go. Severus rang the bell, and soon the witch in black released them from the room. She seemed to know they were deep in thought, so she said simply, "Come again."

Severus and Hermione left the building and returned to Muggle Venice, Italy. They walked in silence, thinking about their house founders. Severus thought about the devastation pure-blood thinking could do to their society, and he thought about the immense power his beautiful, Muggle-born fiancé had. He had known for a while that the houses needed to be integrated. He also knew that Minerva would one day step down as headmaster, and he would be offered the position. Would he have the courage to tear down the barriers the school had kept going for so many centuries? Was it time?

Hermione thought about Godric's strength, the power that had emanated from him, and his fearlessness in the face of death. She seen the hatred fill Salazar's eyes for a brief moment, but Godric had not drawn his wand; he'd stood strong and brave. Each man had been so like the history that was written about him. But now she had real pictures of flesh-and-blood men in her mind. It was staggering that that moment in time was preserved.

They did not speak as they returned to their hotel. They climbed into their bed fully clothed and held each other. Just before they fell asleep, Hermione whispered to Severus, "You must integrate the houses."

Severus whispered back, "I know."

They woke hours later still feeling exhausted from the Pensieve experience. They ordered food and sat cross-legged on the bed with their meal between them.

Neither felt like talking, but they watched each other with veiled glances and finally felt buoyed by the food and drink.

Hermione dusted the last of the breadcrumbs off her hands and slipped from the bed. She leaned into Severus' shoulder. "I want to take a shower. Will you join me?"

"Absolutely," he said. "Let me clear the plates, and I will come right in."

Hermione entered the bathroom, stripping off her shirt and unhooking her bra. She reached up and turned the water on to let it warm up and then peeled her jeans and knickers off and slipped under the warm water. She heard the door open through the sound of the ceiling fan and smiled when she felt Severus slip in behind her and draw her against him. He held her close with his arms around her waist and chest, and she held his arms, leaning down to kiss his arm. She felt him caress her neck with his lips. He held out a hand, and she grabbed the body soap and squeezed a couple dollops into his hand. She threw her head back against his shoulder for a kiss, and his hands slipped over her breasts in a soft, warm caress.

"Severus," she moaned. "You have hands of gold."

He chuckled against her shoulder, planting kisses against her warm wet flesh. "My hands are fine instruments," he said in a low, sexy voice.

Hermione giggled. "Definitely! I appreciate their expertise all the time." She ran her hands over and around his fingers and palms, gathering some of the soft soap, and turned in his arms and lathered his chest with her hands. He bent to capture her mouth, and his tongue slid in to dance with hers. It seemed a soft music filled the air, and they danced a bit, rocking back and forth as the water splashed down around them. Hermione realized that Severus was playing the music in his head and somehow she'd been drawn in with a soft, wandless Legilimens.

She felt his love surround her again...love that had no words but just was, love that touched every part of her...and she surged forth with her own feelings and felt him gasp against her lips. He pulled her tightly against him, and she felt his hard shaft trapped between them. She slid one hand down and captured the rigid member and slid her hand down and up it a few times. He picked her up, backing her against the tiled wall. She raised herself by pushing against his shoulders and wrapped her legs around his hips. She was always amazed by his strength. "For an old man..." his thought echoed in her brain, and she froze.

"Severus, you're eavesdropping. Maybe this isn't a good idea. I'm sor..."

He silenced her with a kiss, and she heard him laugh. "I am an old man in years."

She relaxed and giggled again. "A sexy, amazing, old man." She felt him slide into her, and she pushed down on him, getting a groan of pleasure from him.

"Silence, Hermione," he teased. "I'm going to give you the ride of your life."

She let her thoughts go and just concentrated on his body and the way he was making her feel: the grip of his hands on her hips and the water that made them slippery and added in the smooth dance of love. His rhythm became fast and deep, and she clung to him. Her breasts rose up and down before his face, and he nipped the tip of her nipples when he got a chance, loving the soft cries of pleasure that slipped from her mouth. As he felt his orgasm coming, he whispered, "Cum for me, Hermione." And then louder, as he felt himself burst inside her, he said, "Cum for me, my love."

He felt her muscles clinch around him and heard her cry of pleasure and felt her completion. It was amazing. They were one as they had never been each a part of the other.

Hermione slumped down onto his shoulders and hugged him as she gasped for breath and felt her body calm. He stepped from the shower, still carrying her, and with wandless magic, they were dry. Severus carried her to the bed, and they climbed in and made love again, slowly touching, tasting, and caressing until they fell into a deep sleep of contentment.

Lisa, thank you for your beta work. You outdid yourself this week.

Thank you, Angela, for pre-reading and for your encouragement.